Ministering Within Misunderstanding

THE TEXT: Acts 21.

Five mindsets to keep as you minister within misunderstanding.

• MINDSET #1: It’s still my job to God’s and the .

| Acts 21:1-13 | Matthew 28:18-20 |

• MINDSET #2: I will about it, about it, seek , and it up to the .

| Acts 21:14 | Proverbs 15:22 | Matthew 6:9-15, 26:39 | Romans 12:1-2 | Ephesians 5:17 | 1 Thessalonians 4:3, 5:18 |

• MINDSET #3: Loving > making my .

| Acts 21:20-26 | 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 | Galatians 5:22-26 |

• MINDSET #4: I will not allow (or even ) to keep me out of .

| Acts 21; Mark 15:1-5 | 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 |

• MINDSET #5: I will seek God in my and .

| 1 Peter 3:17 | 2 Corinthians 6:1-10 |

Small Group Questions

What do you think?

Take a minute and re-read the fill-ins from Sunday’s message to jog your memory. What struck a chord with you, challenged you, or raised a question for you?

The story of your life.

1. LIGHTHEARTED QUESTION: What are your Thanksgiving plans?

2. DEEP QUESTION: Without going into specifics about a situation, what emotions tend to flood your body when you feel misunderstood/misrepresented? Ex: anxious, afraid, hurt, embarrassed, overwhelmed, powerless, other? How do you combat that feeling as it rises/grows inside you?

Digging deeper in God’s Word.

1. Pastor Kyle spoke on Sunday about ministering within misunderstanding. We saw how the Apostle Paul refused to relinquish responsibility for his role in building God’s Kingdom and spreading the Gospel even as others misunderstood and misrepresented him. Paul also gave personal insight into how he processed/handled these situations in other letters he wrote. One example is in 2 Corinthians 6:1-13. Read it together and respond to the following prompts/questions.
   1. Of all the hardships Paul experienced, which would be the most difficult for you to handle?

   2. What strategies does Paul say got him through it?

   3. What piece(s) of this is God asking you to take to heart?

2. Another passage where Paul gives insight into how he processed misunderstanding is found in 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12. Read it together and respond to the following prompts/questions.
   1. Of all the hardships Paul experienced, which would be the most difficult for you to handle?

   2. What strategies does Paul say got him through it?

   3. What piece(s) of this is God asking you to take to heart?

3. Jesus was also frequently misunderstood, misrepresented, and accused. One example of this was as he conversed with Pilate and went to the Cross. Read the account from Mark 15:1-20 and respond to the following prompts/questions.
   1. In what ways does Jesus’ reaction to Pilate surprise us?

   2. Taking Christ’s example here in perspective along with the rest of the Scriptures, how might God want us to surprise as we are misunderstood and possibly even maligned?

   3. If anyone has a story of how God worked through a misunderstanding, share it.

4. As followers of Jesus, we may often face misunderstandings, misjudgments, or even accusations from the world—just as Jesus did during His earthly ministry. Take a moment to read the following verses, which offer encouragement in times of being misunderstood. As you reflect, share how these Scriptures speak to you personally or any insights that resonate with your own experiences.
   1. Hebrews 4:15.

   2. John 15:18-19.

   3. 1 Samuel 16:7.

   4. Romans 8:31.

   5. Matthew 5:11-12.

   6. 2 Corinthians 12:9.

Personal reflection and application.

1. Have everyone share one thing someone else said in this discussion that struck a chord with you.

2. Pray for one another (preferably men with men and women with women).